Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-08-02

MONTANA. On tn6 way became Sep
arated from the outfit was treyeling
with, and drifted along from one from
tier ranch or trading station to another,
until / finally mads haltat the CROSS
1nR OF Big Laramie RIVER on the old stage
road, at ranch keptb AL Smith. Smiths
ranch consisted of log building, 20x40,
all in one room, in which he ran gem,
erai store and saloon. AS there Was no
water for fifteen miles either way, his
ranch was camping ground Tor I'LL
trains bound east or west. The Indians
was bad in those days, and every raneh-.
man kept 90 large force about HIM az
possible, and stragglers like myself were
received with open hospitality and urged
to prolong their stay. remained ut
Smiths ranch for several months gel
come guest. Swapping horses, hunting
antelope, drinking whisky, playing pok-
er, and trading In governments mules,
Was IN those days considered all over
the west as legitimate as selling whisky
or any other respectable and honorable
industry. l made plenty of money and
had occasional Indian skirmishes and
lots of excitement. There were several
of US young fellows there, end every
evening we would indulge in poker by
ourselves when we could not get q
stranger in, but when we could we took
him in, and We got them almost every
night, and, as money was abundant, We
wers all we'll fixed. One evening, lsts
IN the fall Vt 1885, q .cadaveroua, lank,
homeiy- looking specimen of humanity
rode up to the ranch on poor, scrawny
mare pony, followed by half starved
colt. He was dressed in ragged rem
nants of threadbare broadcloth suit, q
number of rents in bis trousers show
ing tattered pair of gray ones under
meath. An old pair OF congress CATERS
adorned his extra large Ieet, and an an
tiqnated stiff hat scarcely protected
HIM from the sun. His HAIR was long,
his face unshaven. From his shoulder,
hung by q piece OF rope. on old -four
sack stuffed full of old clothes, while
under his right arm he carried
10 bundle wrapped in an old
striped hiokery shirt. He .awkwardiy
crawled off his Rosinante, and IN q dFawi-
ing, Suffering voice inquired ii he
could 'glt to stay all night? He was
informed that he could spread his
blanket on the floor and could eat with
as such as we had, but that the nearest
hotel was 800 miles down the road, His
stattering speech and gawkyI manner
caused US youngsters unlimited amuse-
ment, and we Ruyed him most unmerci :
fully, all OF which he took in good part.
Before night number of trains
went into camp and by dark the log
cabin was lively, Freightera and
teamsters were buying goods and driuk-
ing whisky, and playing cards for cam
ned fruit-the one great ;dxury Of the
western pilgrims. At an early hour,
long before any one else had thought OK
sleep, Rusty as we called him,
spread his blankets on the floor, and
with his old artillery saddle for pillow.
turned in and tried to sleep. -Four OF
us youngsters drew around a table
and proposed to start poker
game il we could get some one to come
In and make it 6ye-handed. Rusty
jumped up and said as it was impossible
to sleep he would play little
while for fun. we kindly informed
him that We did not play for fun, but q
quarter ante, just to make it interesting.
He demurred at first, but finally agreed
to play So worth. We did not want him
to play on account OF his proverty. but
when be produced fat leather pocket
book stnffed with greenbaoks, our
acruples diminished and the game began.
never sew as awkward man with cerds
IN my life, but am free to confess that
never saw man have such luck
as he did. The aushes, threes. full
hands and strsIghts that man held
were remarkable. By o'clock L had
lost $3.50 and was broke By 2 O'Clock
Frank Jones had lost over $500 and had
to quit for lack of funds. Frank
Williams lasted until 4 O'Clock,
when he got knocked out, and
the game progressed single handed be-
tween Joe Lowery, o superintendent OF
the Overland stage company, and oul
simple friend, who by this time was
over So 900 winner. Joe was considera-
bly, out but had about 5000 left. old
Rusty kept mp running fire of silly
remarks, but We none OF us had any su-
peihuous hilarity left. AS we al by
this time commenced to smell large
sized rodent, We were watching Rusty
with all of our eight eyes. The ante
had been raised to ST., with $3.50 blind
1t was Rusty's deal, and Joe Lowery
| went $3.50 blind. After the deal Rusty
saw the blind and Joe made it good and
raised him $50. Rusty saw the raise and
raised Joe back $50, which Joe called
il taking all the money Joe had left tc
call. Joe had three queens and drew
two cards; Rrsty drew three,
but / saw him take one OF them
lfrora the bottom OF the pack, and aall-
ed Joe's attention to it. joe grabbed
the stakes, when Ruety whipped out
As revolver, and. cooking it, ordered Joe
to drop that money Frank Jones drew
o revolver and fired at Rusty, missing
him, when Rusty iirea in return, killing
Jones instsntly. Joe and both reached
for onr revovers, but shot from Rus-
lty's revolver hit Joe in the heart and BIZ
fell, but as he keeled over his gun ven
off, hitting Frank Williams in the back
of the head the ball penetrating hil
BRAIN killing him. AT the same instan
fred at Rusty and broke his left arm
He returned the fire, hitting me in the
heart, and fell dead"
As he hesitsted, the crowd cast re
proaohful Rlanoes at him and lat mai
with gold spectacles remarked that i
was about bedtime.
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